Folding bed.



J. A. DEWEY.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION men use. 1. 1913.

Patented Jan. 8,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

, .Ll. E MN WITNESSES HA5 A TTORNE YS.

Patented Jan. 8,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR k/OS/HH. H. UEWEY Hi5 ATTORNEYS.

hfl PTEW? JOSIAH A. DEWEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND IIIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO DEWEY DAVENPORT OOMFANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING BED.

Application filed December 1, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH A. Dewar, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco,

State of California, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that type of folding bed generally known as the davenport or sofa bed.

An object of the invention is to provide a davenport bed, which, in its folded position, is capable of containing an upholstered mattress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a davenport bed which possesses a high degree of comfort when used, either as a sofa or a bed.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. The novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description. From this it will be apparent that I do not limit myself to the showing made by said drawings and description, as I may adopt many variations within the scope of my invention as set forth in said claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross section of the davenport in the folded position.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the mattress contained'within the davenport and the positioning of the parts to accommodate the mattress.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the movable frame of the davenport in the raised position, showing the overlapping head boards.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the davenport when in position to be used as a bed.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through one end of the davenport frame in the folded position, taken on the line AA Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the davenport showing the operating lever Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the operating lever and shaft.

Fig. 8 is a view of a modified form of handle.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 119118.

Serial No. 803,943.

davenports now on the market are of such.

construction that a thin pad only can be contained therein when folded, so that if a mattress is used on the bed, it must be removed before the device can be folded to form a sofa.

The device consists of a suitable stationary body comprising a base 2, the sides 3 and the back A which may be upholstered to afford a convenient back rest. The back 4 preferably slopes backward at a comfortable inclination and is arranged at the upper portion of the body only, allowing the space within the body and below the back to be used for receiving the bed. Arranged on the body and between the sides thereof is a movable structure, composed of two frames 5 and 6 hinged together at opposite ends by the brace hinges 7. The joint between the folding frames 5 and 6 is such that in one position the frame 5 is superposed and substantially parallel with respect to frame 6, and in the other position is alined with frame 6 and abuts against or lies adjacent thereto. The frames 5 and 6 are constructed in any suitable manner to perform their required functions.

Arranged on each of the frames 5 and 6, are a plurality of coiled springs 9 disposed at proper intervals. When the frames are in the superposed position, the springs 8 lie between the frames and when the frames are alined, the springs lie above the frames. The springs on each frame are connected together at their free ends by a flexible structure 9 consisting preferably of a wire or fabric mattress, having flexible edges. The flexible structure is attached to the springs only, so that the entire surface of the flexible structure is yieldable to substantially the same extent at all points. Each of the frames 5 and 6 with its associated springs and. flexible structure forms a section of the bed frame, the sections being foldable to the superposed or extended positions. By making the surfaces of the bed frame yieldable to the same extent at all points, the springs are all compressible to allow the interposi tion of an upholstered mattress of material thickness between the frames in the foldable or superposed position without increasing the distance between the frames 5 and 6.

The upholsteredv mattress is preferably made in two sections 12 and 13, corresponding in area to the area of the flexible structures, and these mattress sections are preferably attached to their respective flexible structures. The normal distance between the flexible structures, when the bed fra'meis folded, is less than the thickness of the two mattress sections, so that when the mattress sections are in place, the springs are compressed. This arrangement permits the use of a coil spring mattress and of a. comfortable upholstered mattress, which may remain permanently, without increasing the size or bulk of the davenport, a feature which as far as I am aware is entirely novel.

When the upholstered mattress is in place and the springs 8 are compressed, there is an upward pressureexerted on the foldable frame 5, tending to lift it out of its proper position. In order to prevent such movement of the upper frame, I provide means for locking the rear end of the frame 5 against vertical displacement. Such means consists preferably of a spring held bolt 14 arranged in the rear rail of frame 5, which is adapted to engage a hole or depression in the bar 15 which is attached to the lower frame 6. The upper end of the bar 15 is preferably curved backward, so that if the frame is folded and the bolt 14 is projecting, the bolt will be pushed backward on coming in contact with the bar, and will not strike against the top thereof. The bar is preferably provided with a tooth or projection 16, which is engaged by the rear rail of the frame 5, to stop the downward movement of the frame before the bolt is released when no other stop means is employed. Attached to the bolt 14 is a cord or cable 17 which passes around a pulley or wheel and terminates at a handle or grip 17 arranged adjacent the upper edge of the backing strip 21. When the bed frame is to be unfolded, this handle 17 is gripped and'pulled, releasing the bolt and also serving as a means for turning the folding frame 5, so that only one movement is necessary for opening or unfolding the frames. When the bolt is moved backward it contacts with the rail of the frame, so that the pull exerted on the handle is transferred directly to the frame. It is advisable to lock the frame 5 against vertical movement in either direction, since the absence of the upholstered mattress or the presence of weight on the upper frame,

when there are no other stops employed, will tend to cause the rear end thereof to move downward too far and the presence of the mattress will tend to raise the rear end.

Arranged on the upper side of the frame 5 is the seat 18 of the sofa. This seat is preferably upholstered and provided with for use or lowered for storing. when folded.

When the device is used as a sofa, the folding bed sections are disposed close to the floor or base of the device, and when it is to be used as a bed the frames are raised before they are unfolded. The folding sections are of substantially. the same width as the body or frame of the davenpart, and when used as a sofa, these sections extend into the space below the back 4, from which they are advanced as they are raised.

The lower frame 6 is connected to the stationary structure of the davenport by the links 23, which are ordinarily of the same length and which are arranged at opposite ends of the frame. The links are arranged so that the frames are moved simultaneously upward and forward, the frame 6 remaining parallel with the floor. The frames are raisedby means of a lever 24 arranged on the outside of the davenport at one side.

The lever 24 is attached to a longitudinal shaft 25, which extends through the side 3 and to which is secured, adjacent its opposite ends, levers 26 which engage pins on the sides of frame 6. The center of rotation of the levers 26 is below the pivotal point of the links 23, and the levers 26 are slotted to accommodate this difference. When the frames are in their lower position, the lever 24 lies adjacent the base of the device and when it is desired to raise the bed sections, the lever is graspedand raiser. The lever is preferably bent upward at its end so that the handle 27 may be'readily grasped. A modified form of lever is shown in Fig. 8. In this Secured to the frames 5 and 6 at their opposite ends are head boards and foot boards which not only serve the usual functions of such structures but prevent the upholstered mattress or the bed clothing from becoming caught and entangled in thehinges. In the drawings I have shown only the head boards 32 and 33, attached to one end of frames 5 and 6 res ectively, it being understood that the foot oards are of the same or similar construction. The head boards are preferably formed of sheet metal and are slightly offset with relation to each other, so that when the frames are superposed, the head boards lie side by side. Instead of employing the brace hinges 7 the frames may be hinged together by means of the head and foot boards as shown in Fig. 11. In such construction the head and foot boards are usually provided with ears or tongues 34, through which the pintle of the hinge passes, so that the frames are hinged together by the headand foot boards. The material of these boards is not sufficiently heavy, how-- ever, to withstand the weight of the upper section, and, therefore, I find it advisable to reinforce the hinge by the straps or bars 35 which .are secured to the boards and to the, frames. The boards are preferably made of such width that when the bed sections are alined or unfolded, the boards overlap slightly, thereby presenting a continuous surface at the head and foot of the bed; but this is not essential.

The height of the boards may be equal to the distance between the frames in parallel superposed relation so that the upper frame 5 rests against the boards on the lower frame, and the boards on the upper frame rest against the lower frame, thereby acting as a spacing means to" hold the frames apart. The boards may be made of less height and provided with longitudinal shoulders, as shown in Fig. 5, and the engagement of the shoulders will form the desired stop.

The operation of the device is as follows?- Assuming that it is in use as a sofa and that it is desirable to convert it into a bed. The lever 24 is raised or turned until the links 23 contact with the stops 29. The forward inclination of the links and the stops hold the frames stationary. The handle 17" is then gripped and pulled, releasing frame 5, and turning it about its pivots, and the frame is turned until backing strip 21 contacts with the floor. The bed is then in condition to receive the bed clothing. The upholstered mattress rests upon a yielding surface, which is yieldable over its entire area, thereby producing a very comfortable bed.

I claim: 1. In furniture of the class described, a

are in the superposed position.

3. In furniture of the class described, a bed frame formed in two superposed sections, and ahead board fixed to each section, said head boards being directly pivotally connected adjacent one end;

4. In furniture of the classdescribed, a frame formed in two superposed sections, a head board fixed on each section equal in height to the distance between the superposed sections, and means pivotally conmeeting said head boards directly together adjacent one end.

5. In furniture of the class described, a bed frame formed in two superposed sections hinged together, a head board on each section adapted to hold the upper section apart from the lower section, the head board on one section being offset with respect to the head board on the other section, and means for preventing an upward movement of the upper section.

6. In furniture "of the class described, two superposed frames hinged together at their forward ends, a bar attached to the rear rail of the lower frame provided at its upper end with an aperture,a bolt arranged in the rear rail of the upper frame adapted to seat in said aperture, and means for withdrawing said bolt and turning the upper frame aboutv its hinges.

7. In furniture of the class described, two superposed frames hinged together at their forward ends, a bar connected to the lower frame extending into proximity to the upper of said 

